"Len.was my advisor at Rochester Community College. I also took his economic geography class. I was in his office to share the day JFK was killed. In 1988 we crossed paths again on a regular Monday morning basis as he volunteered at Channel One. I felt I was able to change his mind on Nelson Mandela who Len first told me was a communist.He was always informed and involve and I was so happy to have been with him. "
In loving memory of
Leonard Jansen
July 3, 1925 - December 29, 2017
On December 29, 2017, Leonard Jansen of Rochester MN, passed away peacefully at the age of 92. Born in 1925 and raised in Shakopee MN, he was married for 65 years to Phyllis Frederickson of Faribault MN who died in 2015. They had no children. While enrolled at DePaul University, he volunteered as a Navy corpsman during WW2 with the intent of becoming a doctor. Assigned to Marines fighting in the Pacific, he took part in five major battles and witnessed the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima. Wounded 3 times himself, and tending to countless other wounded, he decided not to pursue a career in medicine. Graduating from Mankato College after the war, he started his career teaching high school in Le Sueur MN, then joined the staff at Rochester Community College for 27 years, eventually becoming Associate Dean of Instruction. Among his many volunteer duties, he served on a committee at the Mayo clinic interviewing prospective student doctors for admission. He was a York Rite Mason and a Shriner. He is survived by three nieces and four nephews. Service will be held January 24, 11am, Ft Snelling Veterans cemetery. Reception follows nearby at Hyatt Regency hotel Bloomington.